Lemma Coffee Co - Mara Estate (Kenya)

I was in the North Dallas area a little while ago for gigs and general mayhem... and, like I usually do, I went on the hunt for some good coffee.  And boy howdy, did I find it!!!

I found Lemma Coffee Company in a small strip of shops in Carrollton, TX and was immediately in love: GREAT selection of coffee, excellent staff, a good location to just chill (either in the shop of around Carrollton Square), and... it's next door to Dead Wax Records!

But for now, let's check out this bag of beans I picked up.

I haven't tried a lot of coffees from Kenya, but I am super into the idea of trying beans from Africa.

The Mara Estate in Kenya has had a brief, but interesting history.  While Kenya coffee production is not as long as their neighbor Ethiopia, they produce some exceptional coffees.

This roast from Lemma is quite good and complex.  The coffee is not as smooth as Ethiopian and initially, I felt like it left a coffee film in my mouth.  But as the coffee cooled a bit, that filmy texture went away... or I just got used to it.  I definitely picked up on the blueberry and dark cherry essence of this coffee as well as a hint of cinnamon.  This is especially true after grinding the beans before brewing as the fragrance of blueberries and coffee fills the kitchen!

As an espresso - this coffee would work well as it imparts an almost Turkish coffee sweetness when finely ground.  Maybe that filmy texture I noticed is what Lemma calls "creamy"?  Also, I'm not picking up on the mango tasting notes as printed on the package - but that's not a deal-killer as I'm very happy with this bean and hope to check out Lemma again the next time I'm in the Dallas area!

In other news - I freaking completed the MS150!!!  one hundred and fifty miles on a bike.  And strangely enough, my body was not in complete pain afterward.  I probably don't look very ecstatic in the photos below because it was HOT and I was wiped out & sore by the time I got to the finish line.  I almost started crying once I crossed the finish as I was so relieved and just... I don't know how to explain it.  Relief / exhaustion / overwhelmed...?

I want to also note that I will probably not be riding the MS150 next year as I felt like I have accomplished what I wanted to do and would like to participate in other big, long-distance rides.  Plus, I kinda hate fund-raising.  I had to fund-raise when I was in 6th and 7th grade while at a Catholic school and I hated it then too: both the fund-raising and the Catholic part.  I'd rather just pay a fee (I know these things can be expensive to organize) and focus on the ride. 

But, I also gotta say that I am going to (gasp!) buy a multi-speed bike.  Yup - after three years of being obstinate about riding a single-speed EVERYWHERE, I'm going to pick up a multi-speed bike for longer rides such as these.  Alas Purple Reign, you will always be with me for local, fun rides - but the time has come to acknowledge that I need to use better gear for these more demanding rides.  

I'm kinda sad again!  :(

Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters - Suke Quto

Every time I see the name of this coffee, I think of Suzi Quatro.  While it's a great batch of beans, it has no relation to the artist.

Instead, this coffee hails from the Guji area of Ethiopia - in the south of the country near Kenya.  The story behind the Suke Quto Farm is quite interesting and a great story about vision and community perseverance.  Definitely click on the link to read about the farm collective as well as a fantastic story about the growth of the Guji area.

When I saw the bag of Suke Quto at Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters, I was intrigued because I had never heard of it before, but I knew I loved Ethiopian coffee.  It turns out that Suke Quto is quite common among many high-end grocery stores as well as many indie coffee roasters... so maybe I wasn't paying attention?  Or... maybe it's just generically labeled as "Ethiopian" at the store.  Either way, let's dive into the Suke Quto roast made by Noble Coyote.

Right away, this coffee has a pleasant acidity but also a bright and cheerful coffee aroma.  I'm tasting dark cherries / berries with this one.  The flavor profile is very full of these darker fruit notes (I also note a plum like character with each sip) but I do not get that apple note as it says on the bag, but I do taste a hint of bergamot - perhaps that's what I'm noticing when I say full flavors of dark berries?

Either way, the coffee has a full mouth feel with each sip.  Excellent straight (my preference) or with a dash of milk.  I feel that oat milk would pair exceptionally well with this coffee.

When it comes to the grind settings, I have been using a medium / coarse grind with these beans.   

I would not recommend this coffee for a French press as the acidity from too long of a brew time would disrupt the beautiful, darker fruit notes.

See if you can find a bag of these beans near you and let me know your thoughts on this bean!